Umrah Guide
Step-by-step rituals · Authentic duas · Miqats · Common questions
Ihram
الإحرام At the MiqatIhram is the sacred state a pilgrim enters before crossing the appointed boundary (miqat). It begins with intention and the Talbiyah, and is marked by specific clothing and prohibitions until Umrah is complete.
Perform a full ritual bath (ghusl) before entering Ihram. This is a recommended Sunnah, encouraged for everyone, including women in menses.
Source: Sahih Muslim 1209; Sunan al-Tirmidhi 830
Men wear two unstitched white cloths: an izar (waist-wrap) and a rida (upper covering). Head must remain uncovered. Women wear ordinary modest clothing covering everything except the face and hands; the face is not to be veiled with a niqab while in ihram, and the hands should not wear gloves, although they may shield the face from non-mahram view with a loose drape.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1838 (men's ihram clothing and women not to veil face or wear gloves)
Form the intention in your heart for Umrah and say it aloud once at or before the miqat.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayka Allāhumma ʿUmratan
“Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1218 (Hadith of Jabir on the Hajj of the Prophet)
Begin reciting the Talbiyah immediately after the niyyah. Men raise their voice; women keep their voice low enough only for themselves to hear. Continue reciting it abundantly until you begin Tawaf.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ, لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ, إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ, لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk, innal-ḥamda wan-niʿmata laka wal-mulk, lā sharīka lak
“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed all praise, favour and dominion belong to You. You have no partner.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1549; Sahih Muslim 1184
After entering Ihram and before completing Umrah you must avoid: cutting hair or nails, applying perfume to body or clothes, hunting land game, sexual relations and anything leading to them, contracting marriage, and arguing or sinful speech. Men additionally must not cover the head; women must not cover the face with a niqab or wear gloves.
Source: Quran 2:197 ("there is to be no sexual relations, nor disobedience, nor disputing during Hajj"); Sahih al-Bukhari 1838
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The Five Miqats
The miqat is the fixed boundary beyond which a pilgrim must enter Ihram. The Prophet (peace be upon him) appointed these for those coming from each direction (Sahih al-Bukhari 1524). For air travel, the miqat is the line over which the plane crosses, not Jeddah airport. Cabin crew typically announce when the miqat is approaching.
People of Madinah and those passing through
People of Sham (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine), Egypt, and North Africa
People of Najd and the Gulf
People of Yemen and most pilgrims arriving by sea from the south
People of Iraq and those coming from the east
Forbidden while in Ihram
- ×Cutting hair or trimming nails
- ×Applying perfume to body or clothing
- ×Hunting land game (Quran 5:95)
- ×Sexual relations and anything leading to them
- ×Contracting marriage or proposing marriage
- ×Arguing, abusive speech, sinful speech (Quran 2:197)
- ×For men: covering the head, wearing stitched clothing
- ×For women: covering the face with a niqab, wearing gloves
Per-Madhab Differences
The four Sunni schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) agree on the rituals of Umrah. The differences below are minor procedural matters; none invalidate Umrah on its own.
All four Sunni schools agree it is Sunnah, not obligatory. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and 'Umar both pointed from a distance when crowded (Sahih al-Bukhari 1610). Hanafi and Hanbali rulings emphasise not pushing or harming others; Shafi'i and Maliki agree.
All schools allow women to perform tawaf without restriction in normal circumstances. In crowded conditions, scholars including al-Nawawi (Shafi'i) recommended women perform tawaf at night and stay clear of men. Women do not perform raml or idtiba.
Sunnah for men in the first three circuits of the arrival tawaf only. Hanafi and Maliki opinions: limited to the arrival tawaf; not done in tawaf al-ifadah if raml was already performed earlier. Women never perform raml.
All four schools consider wudu recommended but not required for sa'i, since sa'i is not a prayer-like ritual. Hanafis explicitly state a woman in menses may perform sa'i (after tawaf is done in purity).
Sunnah to touch with the right hand only, not kissed. Hanafi opinion: do not point to it if unable to touch; only the Black Stone is pointed to. Other schools concur.
Common Questions
My nail broke off accidentally; is my Umrah invalid?
No. Accidental hair fall, broken nail, or insect bite while in ihram carries no penalty. Only intentional cutting requires expiation. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1814 on the rules of forgetfulness in pilgrimage)
I lost count and missed a circuit in tawaf or sa'i; what now?
Build on what you are certain of. If you genuinely doubt whether you completed six or seven, count it as six and complete the seventh. If you realise the omission after leaving, return and complete it; if a long time has passed, scholars of the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools advise repeating that ritual.
A woman starts menstruation after entering Ihram. Can she continue?
Yes. She remains in Ihram and may perform all rituals except tawaf, which requires purity. She delays tawaf until purity returns, then completes the remaining rituals. Sa'i may be done before or after tawaf according to her plan, but normally follows tawaf. (Sahih al-Bukhari 305, the hadith of 'Aisha)
Can I delay shaving until I return to my home country?
No. Halq or taqsir must be done in Makkah before exiting Ihram. Wearing ordinary clothes or applying perfume before cutting is a violation that requires fidya (expiation), typically a sheep, six poor people fed, or three days of fasting. (Quran 2:196)
What is the miqat for someone flying into Jeddah from a far country?
The miqat is the boundary line over which the plane crosses, not Jeddah airport. Most pilgrims from Asia and Europe must enter Ihram before the plane crosses Yalamlam or Qarn al-Manazil, depending on the route. The captain or crew typically announces it. Do not delay until landing.
I am performing Umrah in summer and my deodorant is scented; is that fine?
No. Any scented product applied to the body or clothes after entering Ihram is forbidden. Use unscented soap and unscented deodorant from the start of Ihram until after halq/taqsir.
Is there a particular dua to recite during the seven circuits?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not assign a fixed dua for each circuit. Make any sincere dua, recite Quran, or do dhikr. The only formula tied to a specific point is "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan..." between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone (Sunan Abi Dawud 1892).
Can I perform Umrah on behalf of a deceased parent?
Yes, if you have already performed Umrah for yourself. Make the niyyah at the miqat clearly: "Labbayka Allahumma Umratan an [father/mother's name]". This is established from the hadith of the woman who asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about Hajj on behalf of her father. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1513)
This guide follows the general Sunni structure verified against Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud and al-Nawawi's commentary. It may contain errors; consult a qualified scholar before traveling for Umrah, especially on questions tied to your specific madhab or circumstances.